Frail Body - Artificial Bouquet
A- Tier
Relentlessly heavy, punishingly dark and dramatically atmospheric, Artificial Bouquet is a statement release for 2024 Screamo and for Frail Body. More than 10 years after Deafheaven released their seminal Sunbather record, Frail Body was able to take that general tone and morph it into a screamo anomaly with tons of ethereal Post-Metal bits for good measure. The guitars are dense and dissonant, the drums are a never-ending chaos party and the vocals are brimming with anguish and longing.
Heavenly Blue - We Have The Answer
A- Tier
This album is the band’s first since changing their name from Youth Novel, a devastating blow to a Midwest Screamo fan like myself. However, out of the ashes of Youth Novel comes the dense and discordant We Have The Answer. The drummer is in a frenzy at almost all times while the guitars do not relent on the noisiness. The punishing, distorted vocals complete the cacophony. Heavenly Blue also released a single as Youth Novel this year, so there’s hope that this band will continue to push themselves sonically.
Terry Green - PROVISIONAL LIVING
A- Tier
Is this album a long-lost relic of 2000s Screamo recently unearthed? No, but Terry Green gets pretty damn close. Carrying the legacy of being a sick Skramz band with a first and last name, Terry Green's passionate and aggressive songwriting is a welcome sound for those who miss the heavier side of Screamo from the 00s. For those who prefer newer Skramz, Terry Green’s crisp production values make this feel quite modern. Behold one of Canada’s true Emo gems with this album.
Senza - Celestial Body
A- Tier
Innovators of Blackened Emoviolence, Senza releases their best work since their debut LP back in 2019 with Celestial Body. The dissonant atmospheres prop up aggressive sprints into all-out anarchy with a high-register vocalist who drives the anguish home. If you’re looking for a masterfully dark take on Emoviolence, this is the EP to stream.
lemon bread - milk and honey
A- Tier
After last year’s youthful and lofi debut LP dropped from lemon bread, I had high hopes for the future of the band. Fortunately, the SoCal-based Skramerz deliver with their second LP, amping up the production values, varying the songwriting and keeping what made their last album special in the first place. More than anything, the band sounds like they’re having fun. This one’s for the fans of Fifth Wave Emo and Midwest Screamo.
